Thursday, January 07, 2010

More than 10,000 workers in Turkey are now in their fourth week of protests in near-freezing temperatures and they're asking for our help.

They are employed by Tekel, the former tobacco monopoly, and are protesting against a snap government decision to close their workplaces at the end of this month. They face either unemployment or work at lower wages and fewer benefits.

Their protests began last month when over 100 buses brought them to Ankara to demonstrate in front of the ruling party's headquarters. But police drove them away, forcing the workers into a nearby park.

Police then put up barricades around the park and used water hoses and tear gas against the workers. Police violence escalated, workers were beaten with clubs, and many were hospitalized.

The demonstrators have since moved their protest to outside the headquarters of the Turkish union confederation, where they hold daily demonstrations. Some have gone on hunger strike.

The IUF has launched an online protest -- please take a moment to send off your message today.

This long struggle is also breaking the union's treasury and they've issued an urgent appeal for funds. If your union can help, please contact the IUF (iuf@iuf.org) and they'll tell you how.

Please share this message - forward it to other members of your union, to your co-workers, to family and friends.

More than 10,000 workers in Turkey are now in their fourth week ofprotests in near-freezing temperatures and they're asking for our help<http://cms.iuf.org/?q=node/157>.

They are employed by Tekel, the former tobacco monopoly, and areprotesting against a snap government decision to close theirworkplaces at the end of this month. They face either unemployment orwork at lower wages and fewer benefits.

Their protests began last month when over 100 buses brought them toAnkara to demonstrate in front of the ruling party's headquarters. Butpolice drove them away, forcing the workers into a nearby park.

Police then put up barricades around the park and used water hosesand tear gas against the workers. Police violence escalated, workerswere beaten with clubs, and many were hospitalized.

The demonstrators have since moved their protest to outside theheadquarters of the Turkish union confederation, where they hold dailydemonstrations. Some have gone on hunger strike.